Hi,
I’ve been on this journey since early summer when I found a lump.
At first I was told it was benign but I was going to work abroad and wanted to get rid of it so I could leave relaxed. That was a good choice as three weeks after my lumpectomy I found out I had DCIS. The initial diagnosis was that I should have a mastectomy as it looked like I had another area of DCIS but I’ve since changed hospital (so I can be with my family) and have loads of confidence in my new Consultant and Nurse. They did a second mammogram and found calcification in both breasts but say it is not DCIS. I wonder if this will haunt me at some point but I’m trying to put it out of my mind and take things in stages.
The surgeon recommends a type of wide local excision first off, and hasn’t ruled out radiotherapy but we haven’t really discussed that yet as she wants to see whether I have a good clear margin first. If I don’t I might have to have a mastectomy - and would probably opt for one unless there is a good case to try further WLE.
So… I was initially very relieved as I was finding it a bit difficult to accept losing a breast, and I still feel that way. (sorry to those readers who have not had a choice or are coming to terms with their choice). But in the back of my mind is a nagging feeling that if I just had one straight off it would save alot of bother, more general anaesthetic, recovery time, radiotherapy, etc.
Today I saw my surgeon and confirmed that I was going to have the WLE next thursday, but this evening I got a call from the hospital saying I could have it on Friday (day after tomorrow) if I liked. Again its a bit confusing to know what I really want. My initial reaction was excitement as it gets the ball rolling and I’ll be back on my feet sooner (or finding out what I need next). I think that’s what I’m going for but I’m a bit worried that I haven’t got my head round it enough, bought the sports bra, taken any arnica yet, etc.
On the other hand I’ve been trying to get a bit more fit recently and don’t want to loose momentum, have been getting more irritable with my family and think that might just get worse if I put things off… so there’s lots of good reasons for biting the bullet - perhaps most of all it will prevent me deliberating!
…and I’d probably have these feelings of second thoughts and not being prepared next week too…?
Presumably if I keep following my gut feelings and what seems to be very carefully considered advice from the medics I wont be too harsh on myself if I end up having a mastectomy anyway, as I’ll feel we’ve tried other options first.
I’ve just read lots of discussion streams where people talk about having multiple ops over years and I suppose thats freaked me a bit.
sorry… don’t really know what I’m asking… think I’m just looking for a bit of late night chat from women who understand.